REPORT 2019- THE STATE OF CORRUPTION IN ZIMBABWE: AS PERCEIVED BY THE CITIZENS OF ZIMBABWE -PRODUCED AS PART OF COMMEMORATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY- 9 DECEMBER 2019- Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) Regional Office 16, 2 nd Avenue, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe P. O. Box 93, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe Tel: +263 (55) 25 25 23 5 E-mail: [email protected] Registration No: - 045.923-NPO (South Africa) | Registration No: - MA147/2004 (Zimbabwe) 0 ORGANISATIONAL FACT SHEET 1. Introduction The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) is a regional, non-governmental and non-political organisation that was set up in 2004 to campaign against corruption and to promote good governance in both the private and public sectors. ACT-SA implements the following Programmes: ↔ Anti-Corruption Capacity Enhancement & Institution building Programme : The purpose of the Programme is to enhance the capacities of specialised anti-corruption bodies, auditors and audit institutions, judicial institutions, and law enforcement agents, to effectively respond to the challenge of corruption ↔ Anti-corruption institutional, policy and law reform Programme : The purpose of the Programme is to support national, regional and international efforts towards the formulation, implementation, adherence and coordination of anti-corruption treaties, laws, policies and action plans; ↔ Access to Justice Programme: The purpose of the Programme is to improve access to justice to victims of corruption, targeting marginalised communities, especially women, youths, the disabled and those living with HIV and AIDS. ↔ Community, civil society and business sector empowerment Programme: The purpose of the Programme is to enhance the capacities of communities, media and civil society organisations to effectively contribute to dialogue on strengthening the development and implementation of anti-corruption institutions, laws and policies for eradication of poverty and inequality. ↔ National, Regional and International Cooperation Programme: The purpose of the programme is to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation on criminal, civil and administrative matters relating to corruption in line with regional, continental and international anti-corruption treaties. ↔ Research, monitoring, evaluation, learning and information Programme : The purpose of the Programme is to contribute to anti-corruption knowledge generation, codification and advocacy for improved efficiency, effectiveness and impact of anti-corruption efforts. 2. Legal status ACT-Southern Africa is a non-profit and independent trust registered in South Africa (Registration No. 045-923-NPO) and Zimbabwe (Registration No. MA147/2004). 3. Vision Accountable, transparent and legitimate public and private sector institutions operating alongside a well-informed, empowered and actively engaged citizenry in poverty eradication and development. 4. Mission To contribute towards good governance and the ending of corruption in Southern Africa through institutional capacity building, situational prevention of corruption, social prevention and public empowerment; anti-corruption policy and law reform and research and development. 5. Contact Details Organisation: Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa Physical Address: Number 16, 2 nd Avenue, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe Postal Address: P.O.Box 93, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe Tel: +26355 25235 E-mail: [email protected] 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS © 9 December 2019 Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) This report is a product of efforts of the Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Information Department of ACT-SA. The Department consulted citizens of Zimbabwe, particularly those residing in Kwekwe to give their inputs vis-à-vis the state of corruption in Zimbabwe. This report is thus dedicated to these ordinary people of Zimbabwe who bear the brunt of corruption. Speaking out is one of positive steps to ensure that their concerns are relayed to policy-makers. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2. UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM CORRUPTION ......................................................................................... 4 3. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATE OF CORRUPTION IN ZIMBABWE ...................................................................... 4 3.1 CORRUPTION BY POLITICALLY CONNECTED PERSONS (PEP S) ..................................................................................... 4 3.2 CORRUPTION BY THE ZIMBABWE REVENUE AUTHORITY (Z IM RA) ................................................................................ 6 3.3 CORRUPTION BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS .................................................................................................. 7 3.4 CORRUPTION IN THE ALLOCATION OF LAND AND STANDS .......................................................................................... 7 3.5 CORRUPTION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR .............................................................................................................. 8 3.6 CORRUPTION IN JUSTICE SECTOR .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.7 CORRUPTION BY LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ................................................................................................................. 9 3.8 CORRUPTION IN THE HEALTH SECTOR .................................................................................................................... 9 3.9 CORRUPTION BY ZETDC ................................................................................................................................... 10 3.10 CORRUPTION IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES .................................................................................................................. 10 3.11 CORRUPTION IN THE MINING SECTOR ................................................................................................................. 10 3.12 CORRUPTION IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF AID .......................................................................................................... 10 3.13 CORRUPTION BY POLITICAL PARTIES .................................................................................................................... 11 4. CHALLENGES TO ANTI-CORRUPTION ...................................................................................................... 12 4.1 LACK OF INTEREST TO PURSUE CORRUPTION CASES TO THEIR LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS ..................................................... 12 4.2 CORRUPTION CASES TAKE TOO LONG TO BE CONCLUDED .......................................................................................... 12 4.3 LAWYERS CRITICIZED FOR REPRESENTING CORRUPT PEOPLE ...................................................................................... 13 4.4 IMPUNITY AGAINST CORRUPTION ....................................................................................................................... 14 4.5 COMPLEXITIES IN TACKLING CORRUPTION ............................................................................................................. 14 4.6 CITIZEN APATHY AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ......................................................................................................... 14 4.7 POLITICAL INTERFERENCE .................................................................................................................................. 14 4.8 LACK OF CAPACITY ........................................................................................................................................... 14 4.9 PEOPLE BENEFITING FROM CORRUPTION A CAUSE FOR CONCERN ............................................................................. 14 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 15 ANNEXES ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 ↔ ANNEX 1- QUESTIONNAIRE - CITIZENS PARTICIPATION ON THE STATE OF CORRUPTION IN ZIMBABWE ................................... 16 ↔ ANNEX 2- MAPPING OF ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AGAINST POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS (PEP S) AND OTHER HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUALS IN ZIMBABWE (2018 UPDATE ).......................................................................................................... 17 3 1. INTRODUCTION This report was compiled from inputs made by the ordinary citizens of Kwekwe in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. In order to seek citizens’ inputs, the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) organized focus group discussions. Questions discussed were in line with Annex -1-. The focus groups discussed the nature of corruption affecting the well-being of the people, what is being done to deal with the corruption, the challenges faced and the way forward. In pursuit thereof, the citizens raised issues on impunity against corruption. Several examples of corruption which affected the people were raised and these examples were not only from Kwekwe but country-wide. To this end, this report is structured in such a way that it encapsulates citizens understanding of corruption, highlights of corruption affecting the citizens, the challenges faced in anti-corruption as well as possible recommendations. 2. UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM CORRUPTION Through the discussions